I Feel Bad for Steel

Sep 17 2015

I’m suspicious when a fad takes off quickly. So it’s with a raised eyebrow when reading about the shift in manufacturing from steel to aluminum.

To learn more I speak with Dr. Jody Hall, Vice President of the automotive market at the Steel Market Development Institute.

Short answer – steel will win.

It’s not the first time aluminum has tried a takeover? “This isn’t the first cycle Keri, it’s just the latest,” she says.

It’s not as environmentally-friendly as you may think, it’s expensive to convert a factory from steel to aluminum, and maybe most shocking is that the two types of materials cannot be serviced by the same tools, or in the same service bay. What body shop can afford to duplicate everything?

Read it online at Autonet.

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Hall explains that it takes more energy to produce aluminum than steel, and it produces an abundance of CO2 and emissions. “You’ve contributed to global warming before you even turn the key,” she says.

***

Back to ‘Keri on Driving’ – Index

The Most Expensive Product to Manufacture

Dec 10 2012

Aluminum foil.

Top 3 anyway. Sometimes called ‘tin foil‘, for historical reasons, but it’s actually made of aluminum.

Surprised? I was. But then I considered how fragile it is. And the amount of energy required, to press metal that thin.

Things I Found When Moving

Oct 13 2011

Highschool prom dress. Purchased at Value Village.

The best electronic organizer I’ve ever owned – a Palm V; it was aluminum and had a rechargeable battery.

I’ve had an electronic organizer for 22 years; this one was my first.

Terry Mullan was my favourite DJ way back when, Chicago acid house. Notice how his name is spelled differently on the tapes, analog times.

My teeth pre-braces, circa grade 11.

I wore these pants as part of my security guard uniform. They’re 5.11 Tactical pants, and that’s funny.

I also wear 5.11s as winter boots, love them OH WAIT YES… I have the perfect photo of them from last week…..

I dropped my camera, and caught it in my boot, TADA. Reflexes.

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Aluminum foil.

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